France: Not Reported

Marine Conservation Institute, recognizing the need for more and better ocean protection, is leading a major initiative to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Launched in 2017, the Global Ocean Refuge System is an innovative strategy to incentivize decision makers to establish protected areas that safeguard marine life and promote opportunities for sustainable tourism. Learn more about the program at globaloceanrefuge.org

The Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls protects thriving seagrass meadows and rocky reefs, soft sediment areas and underwater cavities in the western Mediterranean Sea. Its diverse habitats allow for exceptional biodiversity: there are 1,239 animal species and 497 plant species known to live within the reserve. The Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls features seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica, an endemic species of the Mediterranean that acts as a nursery for many species, including the noble pen shell, seahorses, octopuses and sea breams.

The rocky reefs of Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls are home to many species of molluscs, crustaceans, and fish. Coralligenous formations in the reserve also provide habitat for more than 500 invertebrate species, while underwater cavities are home to spiny lobsters, moray eels, red scorpionfish, and groupers. The reserve is important habitat for the endangered and endemic dusky grouper.

The main objective of the Pyrénées-Orientales General Council, the regional government responsible for managing the Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, is to protect the seabed and marine species and to sustainably manage human activities and development. It aims to protect areas that are valuable for local biodiversity, geology or other natural features as well as fragile, rare and threatened ecosystems. The reserve guarantees the protection of animal and plant species as well as their habitats.

Scientific monitoring is conducted regularly within the Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls. At least a dozen monitoring expeditions are carried out each year in the reserve, either internally, externally, or in partnership with research laboratories. The Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls is also buffered by the Parc Naturel Marin du Golfe du Lion, which is an MPA that covers an area of 4,019 km², monitors fished populations and can refuse assent to fishing activities likely to have a significant impact on the marine environment.

The Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) is a Marine Conservation Institute initiative working to build a global network of effective marine protected areas to save ocean wildlife. In 2018, GLORES grew to include 10 blue parks around the world.

The marine reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls is one of the oldest marine protected areas of the Mediterranean. Created in 1974, is managed by the Department of Pyrenees-Orientales. Due to its significant ecological richness and its effective management, the marine nature reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls is classified since 2014 on the green list of protected natural areas of IUCN.

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On the edge of the rocky coast of the Eastern Pyrenees, the Natural Marine Reserve of Banyuls-Cerberus covers 650 hectares of sea and stretches 6 kilometers from shore until mile and a half offshore.

The Nature Reserve has two levels of protection:

enhanced protection zone

Protection is reinforced in the southern part of the reserve at Cape Rédéris, where all taxes, dips or anchors are prohibited, except those inherent in the progress of scientific studies approved by the Advisory Committee of the reserve.

This area, with an area of ​​65 ha, materialized at sea by two bright yellow tags of 8 m3, down by two other yellow markings applied halfway up against the cliff.

partial protection zone

This area is the largest area of ​​protected area, about 600 ha, where human activities are regulated, such as fishing, and other prohibited as spearfishing.

The area is bounded by sea in the same type of tags as before but a higher volume (12 m3). On land, between the port of Banyuls and Cape Peyrefite several signs at the main access to the sea and views, reminiscent regulations and inform the public.

Between 15 and 30 m depth, the seagrass Posidonia, a key Mediterranean wealth, undulate with the currents. These aquatic meadows, true nurseries, home to various species of fish, octopus and sponges. So saupe, bream and bream for some, hippocampus speckled, little star sheriff, large cicada sea and Pinna nobilis for others, live together in peace. Spirograph tunicate and hold the role of screener.
The submarine prolongation is done with the stratum of the coralligenous, middle popular with divers who are more than 500 invertebrates. Thus, the purple sea urchin, the Dalmatian stone dory and sponge fields colonize gorgonians and red coral. Kingdom of colors and forms, it is also the area of grouper, moray of, the scorpion ... that prefer rocky bottoms while the white line, the torpedo, monkfish ... live clad in soft and muddy and coexist with bats and stargazers.
More rarely, shark pilgrim, the bottlenose dolphin and loggerhead turtles frequent the area off the coast.
A trail marked submarine to discover this rich and diverse ecosystem clocking area equipped with flippers, mask and snorkel.